Buccaneers still short of sellout, but there will be no blackout

You can still buy a ticket for Sunday's season opener against the Cowboys as the Bucs say there are still a limited number available, but the team is now confirming the game will be shown on local television.

The NFL requires that games be sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff or a local blackout takes effect. The local area is defined as a 75-mile radius.

The league said it had no plans to make exceptions in reaction to an.economic downturn that has hit Florida particularly hard. But in this case, it appears the Bucs are close enough that the league has decided to, in effect, look the other way.

The Bucs didn't comment specifically on the NFL's decision, but a team spokesman was adamant there is no possibility of a blackout at this point.

The Bucs have not had a home game blacked out since moving into Raymond James Stadium in 1998. There are some possible blackouts brewing elsewhere. In Cincinnati, for example, the Bengals today were granted a 24-hour extension to try and sell their remaining seats for Sunday.

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